As we know, NFL teams earn compensatory draft picks for a net loss of unrestricted free agents. Players who are released or traded don't count.

The Patriots would get a nice pick for the loss of Samuel -- if they qualify. Samuel would count as a fourth or possibly as high as a third round pick.

However, the Patriots have lost only Samuel, Gay, and Wilson, I believe, as unrestricted free agents. They have also released a number of players, such as Colvin, Stallworth, and Kyle Brady -- so those guys do not count.

They have signed several low level players, but the primary criteria is the net loss of total UFA's, not the net loss of value.

If all four were UFA's, then the Pats have signed four and lost three, for a net gain of one UFA. They might possibly earn the last pick in the seventh round, like pick #240 or so, for net loss of value.

However, if two or more of those guys were cut, waived, or released, then they could get as high as a late third, around #95, for Samuel.

Anyone here know for certain the status of those four players the Patriots signed?

Anyone here know for certain the status of those four players the Patriots signed?

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I'd say Webster and Williams stand a better-than-average chance at making the squad next year, not because they're high quality players but because of the state of the defensive backfield. Sanders is probably camp fodder, and Aiken is probably on the bubble from the get-go.

As we know, NFL teams earn compensatory draft picks for a net loss of unrestricted free agents. Players who are released or traded don't count.

The Patriots would get a nice pick for the loss of Samuel -- if they qualify. Samuel would count as a fourth or possibly as high as a third round pick.

However, the Patriots have lost only Samuel, Gay, and Wilson, I believe, as unrestricted free agents. They have also released a number of players, such as Colvin, Stallworth, and Kyle Brady -- so those guys do not count.

They have signed several low level players, but the primary criteria is the net loss of total UFA's, not the net loss of value.

If all four were UFA's, then the Pats have signed four and lost three, for a net gain of one UFA. They might possibly earn the last pick in the seventh round, like pick #240 or so, for net loss of value.

However, if two or more of those guys were cut, waived, or released, then they could get as high as a late third, around #95, for Samuel.

Anyone here know for certain the status of those four players the Patriots signed?

Click to expand...

This has been brought up NUMEROUS times already. I don't understand why we need another thread, but here goes. Most of your assessment is way off.

1) None of the FAs that the Pats signed have a contract greater than 900K.

2) 900K was the lowest salary last year that a compensatory pick was given out for so it stands to reason that this year will most likely be higher.

3) Seeing that none of the UFAs that the Pats signed is great than the 900K it stands to reason that none will be eligible for the compensatory equation.

4) Stallworth was not released. His option was not picked up. The ended his contract. So he is still eligible from everything that I've read.

5) Samuel should net a 3rd. Gay a 5th (possibly a 4th), Stallworth a 4th (possibly a 5th) (depending on eligibility), and Wilson a 6th.

6) The Primary criteria is NOT Net loss vs. net gain. Its net loss of ELIGIBLE UFA vs. Net gain of ELIGIBLE players. And that depends on the salary that the players signed for.

7) Webster, Aiken, Sanders, and Williams would count if their contracts were eligible unless they were cut prior to the start of training camp, I believe.

I'd say Webster and Williams stand a better-than-average chance at making the squad next year, not because they're high quality players but because of the state of the defensive backfield. Sanders is probably camp fodder, and Aiken is probably on the bubble from the get-go.

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Making the squad doesn't matter. Its whether or not they are on the roster at a particular time. I believe its the start of training camp.

This has been brought up NUMEROUS times already. I don't understand why we need another thread, but here goes. Most of your assessment is way off.

1) None of the FAs that the Pats signed have a contract greater than 900K.

2) 900K was the lowest salary last year that a compensatory pick was given out for so it stands to reason that this year will most likely be higher.

3) Seeing that none of the UFAs that the Pats signed is great than the 900K it stands to reason that none will be eligible for the compensatory equation.

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Unfortunately, DaBruinz, so is a good portion of your assessment. The $900K was the amount needed to earn a comp pick. The salary needed to be an eligible UFA in 2007 was under $800K.

That said, Tank Williams and Lewis Sanders both qualify for vet minimum exemptions, so I am about 95% certain that neither of them will count against the Patriots. Webster and Aiken might qualify, but even they are 'bubble' cases.

5) Samuel should net a 3rd. Gay a 5th (possibly a 4th), Stallworth a 4th (possibly a 5th) (depending on eligibility), and Wilson a 6th.

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[For the record, the primary criterion is the average annual value of the contract.]

Samuel's $9M is obviously enough for a third.

Stallworth's $5M would have been the highest fourth this year, so it will be at worst a fourth next year.

I know the source is NFL, but how confident are you in that information? Going through the entire database, it lists a total of two players that were released -- QB Trent Dilfer and RB Kevin Jones. There have to be more players than that released. My question is that, once released, you are a free agent, so how do you differentiate?

I'm pleased to learn that failing to pick up a contract counts as UFA, not a release. That will benefit the Patriots.